My Travel Plans...Hopefully.

I have been putting off planning my next trip for some time now, though I did have a vague idea as to where I wanted to travel. Well, I have finally decided, and, though it is not set in stone, it looks like the lucky winner is, indeed, Tunisia. Israel and Egypt are still in the running, but I think I would rather save these countries for a later date. Now, I have but to submit my paperwork and gather my resources, and I am off. A few weeks ago I attempted to clean my bedraggled backpack, which smells as though a giant, rancid cigarette butt has been toting it around and urinating into it. Which only goes to show what two trips to Asia, three years in the trunk of a beat-up Toyota Celica, followed by four years of confinement in a box will do.

I hope to take this excursion sometime within the next few months, preferably in March or April, but possibly as early as February. There are some minor issues which could cause me to postpone my trip, but here’s to hoping. I had wanted to go in October, though to my dismay I discovered that Ramadan is being held during that month, and I am not thrilled at the idea of experiencing this holiday a second time. Nothing against it, as holidays go it is actually rather interesting, I had simply rather be able to eat during the day as it is more amenable to sight-seeing. Too, inhibitions are at there highest during this time of year, and I prefer them near the bottom.

The only catch is, with the current state of the world (which isn’t good at any time), and of Egypt in particular, I may be unable to secure permission for such a trip (for example- Lebanon was my first choice, but my request was summarily denied). If this turns out to be the case, my backup plan includes a trip to either Prague, Vietnam and/or Laos, or St. Petersburg and Moscow. Failing that, I am going to Savannah, where I shall shamelessly drink myself into a coma for three weeks, wearing an enormous grass hat, speaking with a Russian accent, and doing whatever people in Prague do (when I find out what that is exactly).

So far, I have only worked out the cost for Tunisia, and it is very agreeable. I chanced upon an incredible ticket: only 750USD (I haven‘t bought it yet), of course this does not include bus fare to Atlanta, but that would only tack on another $50 or so. As for expenses, I can budget up to 100USD a day. For Tunis this is a bit extravagant, though for Prague or Russia it might actually prove insufficient. I may have to shorten my stay by a week or so if I choose one of these countries. For the same amount in Vietnam and/or Laos I could probably rent a palatial colonial mansion, and have an eighteen-year-old girl feed me grapes, while another sings “Vive Le France” in her underwear while juggling great, flaming pineapples. Not that this is necessarily my thing. I’m just illustrating a point. I don’t even like grapes that much.

I fear you have been victim to one of my wild fits of insomniac verbosity (and, no, I did not make this word up). Ever since I purchased this damn machine, it has proven the bane of sleep. I am a slave to the keyboard. As the only things I use it for are writing, e-mail, and saving unreasonable amounts of hardcore, deviant, at times improbable, pornography on my hard drive, I feel I could have done with a much less powerful computer (and a much larger hard drive).

Anyway, these are my plans for the time being. I will keep you informed. Please feel free to write back with any comments, the more unusual the better.

P.S. The pornography comment was a joke, people. I would never save it, that’s evidence.